Lichen-forming fungi are known to produce a large number of secondary metabolites. Some metabolit... more Lichen-forming fungi are known to produce a large number of secondary metabolites. Some metabolites are deposited in the cortical layer of the lichen thallus where they exert important ecological functions, such as UV filtering. The fact that closely related lineages of lichen-forming fungi can differ in cortical chemistry suggests that natural product biosynthesis in lichens can evolve independent from phylogenetic constraints. Usnic acid is one of the major cortical pigments in lichens. Here we used a comparative genomic approach on 46 lichen-forming fungal species of the Lecanoromycetes to elucidate the biosynthetic gene content and evolution of the gene cluster putatively responsible for the biosynthesis of usnic acid. Whole-genome sequences were gathered from taxa belonging to different orders and families of Lecanoromycetes, where Parmeliaceae is the most well-represented taxon, and analyzed with a variety of genomic tools. The highest number of biosynthetic gene clusters was ...
Parmelioid lichens are a diverse and ubiquitous group of foliose lichens. Generic delimitation in... more Parmelioid lichens are a diverse and ubiquitous group of foliose lichens. Generic delimitation in parmelioid lichens has been in a state of flux since the late 1960s with the segregation of the large, heterogeneous genus Parmelia into numerous smaller genera. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies have demonstrated that some of these new genera were monophyletic, some were not, and others, previously believed to be unrelated, fell within single monophyletic groups, indicating the need for a revision of the generic delimitations. This study aims to give an overview of current knowledge of the major clades of all parmelioid lichens. For this, we assembled a dataset of 762 specimens, including 31 of 33 currently accepted parmelioid genera (and 63 of 84 accepted genera of Parmeliaceae). We performed maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of combined datasets including two, three and four loci. Based on these phylogenies and the correlation of morphological and chemical Ta xo n o my
Nomenclatural type definitions are one of the most important concepts in biological nomenclature.... more Nomenclatural type definitions are one of the most important concepts in biological nomenclature. Being physical objects that can be re-studied by other researchers, types permanently link taxonomy (an artificial agreement to classify biological diversity) with nomenclature (an artificial agreement to name biological diversity). Two proposals to amend the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), allowing DNA sequences alone (of any region and extent) to serve as types of taxon names for voucherless fungi (mainly putative taxa from environmental DNA sequences), have been submitted to be voted on at the 11 International Mycological Congress (Puerto Rico, July 2018). We consider various genetic processes affecting the distribution of alleles among taxa and find that alleles may not consistently and uniquely represent the species within which they are contained. Should the proposals be accepted, the meaning of nomenclatural types would change in a fundament...
An understanding of how biotic interactions shape species' distributions is central to predicting... more An understanding of how biotic interactions shape species' distributions is central to predicting host-symbiont responses under climate change. Switches to locally adapted algae have been proposed to be an adaptive strategy of lichen-forming fungi to cope with environmental change. However, it is unclear how lichen photobionts respond to environmental gradients, and whether they play a role in determining the fungal host's upper and lower elevational limits. Deep-coverage Illumina DNA metabarcoding was used to track changes in the community composition of Trebouxia algae associated with two phylogenetically closely related, but ecologically divergent fungal hosts along a steep altitudinal gradient in the Mediterranean region. We detected the presence of multiple Trebouxia species in the majority of thalli. Both altitude and host genetic identity were strong predictors of photobiont community assembly in these two species. The predominantly clonally dispersing fungus showed stronger altitudinal structuring of photobiont communities than the sexually reproducing host. Elevation ranges of the host were not limited by the lack of compatible photobionts. Our study sheds light on the processes guiding the formation and distribution of specific fungal-algal combinations in the lichen symbiosis. The effect of environmental filtering acting on both symbiotic partners appears to shape the distribution of lichens.
Disjunct intercontinental distributions have always fascinated biologists. With the increasing av... more Disjunct intercontinental distributions have always fascinated biologists. With the increasing availability of molecular sequence data, there is a renewed interest in historical biogeography, especially in groups in which species boundaries have changed dramatically as a result, such as lichenized fungi. In the hyperdiverse family Parmeliaceae, Parmelina and Myelochroa have contrasting centres of distribution, with Myelochroa being most diverse in eastern Asia and Parmelina in Western Europe and the Mediterranean. We used multi-locus sequence data from 53 specimens to understand the impact of historical events on the current distribution patterns in these genera. We reconstructed phylogenetic relationships, estimated divergence times and inferred ancestral distributions. Our analyses suggested that the ancestor of the two genera occurred in the Old World and that these genera split during the Eocene. Diversification in both genera was estimated to have occurred during the Miocene, with the ancestor of Myelochroa probably occurring in Asia, whereas the ancestor of Parmelina probably occurred in the Turanian region and Europe or only Europe. The two Parmelina spp. occurring in the New World (P. coleae, P. yalungana) are not closely related and migrated independently from the Old World.
Both macroclimate and evolutionary events may influence symbiont association and diversity patter... more Both macroclimate and evolutionary events may influence symbiont association and diversity patterns. Here we assess how climatic factors and evolutionary events shape fungal-algal association patterns in the widely distributed lichen-forming fungal genus Protoparmelia. Multilocus phylogenies of fungal and algal partners were generated using 174 specimens. Coalescent-based species delimitation analysis suggested that 23 fungal hosts are associating with 20 algal species. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to infer how fungal-algal association patterns varied with climate. Fungi associated with one to three algal partners whereas algae accepted one to five fungal partners. Both fungi and algae were more specific, associating with fewer partners, in the warmer climates. Interaction with more than one partner was more frequent in cooler climates for both the partners. Cophylogenetic analyses suggest congruent fungal-algal phylogenies. Host switch was a more common event in...
The Mediterranean region, comprising the Mediterranean Basin and the Macaronesian Islands, repres... more The Mediterranean region, comprising the Mediterranean Basin and the Macaronesian Islands, represents a center of diversification for many organisms. The genetic structure and connectivity of mainland and island microbial populations has been poorly explored, in particular in the case of symbiotic fungi. Here we investigated genetic diversity and spatial structure of the obligate outcrossing lichen-forming fungus Parmelina carporrhizans in the Mediterranean region. Using eight microsatellite and mating-type markers we showed that fungal populations are highly diverse but lack spatial structure. This is likely due to high connectivity and long distance dispersal of fungal spores. Consistent with low levels of linkage disequilibrium and lack of clonality, we detected both mating-type idiomorphs in all populations. Furthermore we showed that the Macaronesian Islands are the result of colonization from the Mediterranean Basin. The unidirectional gene flow, though, seemed not to be suffi...
Los líquenes (hongos liquenizados) son organismos que presentan una alta diversidad, especialment... more Los líquenes (hongos liquenizados) son organismos que presentan una alta diversidad, especialmente en las regiones tropicales; sin embargo, en Perú su conocimiento aún es escaso. Utilizando una metodología convencional, así como literatura actualizada sobre la descripción de géneros y especies, se presenta una lista de los macro-líquenes presentes en el Santuario Histórico de Machu Picchu (Cusco, Perú). Se reportan 67 especies de macro-líquenes, 9 de los cuales son nuevos registros para el Perú. Las familias Parmeliaceae, Physiciaceae y Lobariaceae son las que presentan mayor riqueza de especies en el área de estudio.
Recently, molecular phylogenetic studies have revolutionized the generic concepts in Parmeliaceae... more Recently, molecular phylogenetic studies have revolutionized the generic concepts in Parmeliaceae and in lichen forming fungi in general. In the present study, the generic delimitation in the Hypotrachyna clade is revised using a molecular phylogeny of nuclear ITS, LSU and mitochondrial SSU rDNA sequences of 88 hypotrachynoid taxa. Morphological and chemical features are also revised in each group. 118 sequences are newly generated for this study. Our phylogenetic analyses show the polyphyly of Hypotrachyna as currently circumscribed which falls into four well-supported and one unsupported clade. Cetrariastrum, Everniastrum and Parmelinopsis are nested within Hypotrachyna s. lat., Parmelinopsis being also polyphyletic and nested in one of the Hypotrachyna clades. Cetrariastrum is monophyletic but clustered within Everniastrum. Two alternative hypotheses tests significantly rejected the monophyly of these three genera. As a consequence, the genera Cetrariastrum, Everniastrum, and Par...
Database : the journal of biological databases and curation, 2014
DNA phylogenetic comparisons have shown that morphology-based species recognition often underesti... more DNA phylogenetic comparisons have shown that morphology-based species recognition often underestimates fungal diversity. Therefore, the need for accurate DNA sequence data, tied to both correct taxonomic names and clearly annotated specimen data, has never been greater. Furthermore, the growing number of molecular ecology and microbiome projects using high-throughput sequencing require fast and effective methods for en masse species assignments. In this article, we focus on selecting and re-annotating a set of marker reference sequences that represent each currently accepted order of Fungi. The particular focus is on sequences from the internal transcribed spacer region in the nuclear ribosomal cistron, derived from type specimens and/or ex-type cultures. Re-annotated and verified sequences were deposited in a curated public database at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), namely the RefSeq Targeted Loci (RTL) database, and will be visible during routine sequenc...
Dióxido de azufre, Daños forestales, Metales pesados, Contaminación acuática, Cambio climático, E... more Dióxido de azufre, Daños forestales, Metales pesados, Contaminación acuática, Cambio climático, Estabilización del suelo Lichens as rapid bioindicators of pollution and habit disturbance in the tropics Lichens have value as bioindicators of environmental pollution, climate change, and ecological continuity. Extensive work has been undertaken in temperate areas, but in only few cases have the techniques been applied in the tropics. Most tropical studies to date are in relation to air pollution and forest disturbance, but these are scattered geographically and remain to be undertaken in most tropical regions. The potential of lichens as rapid bioindicators in the tropics can start to be realized even where the species described are not fully identified as they are perennial and separable by eye or hand lens, and a lack of training is identified as the main constraint. An extensive bibliography is included.
The first molecular phylogenetic study on a range of Punctelia species is reported, focussing on ... more The first molecular phylogenetic study on a range of Punctelia species is reported, focussing on specimens growing in the Iberian Peninsula. Material of seven species was included in the analysis. Forty sequences were generated from nuITS and mtSSU rDNA in 20 specimens, and the resultant majority rule consensus tree from the combined analyses shows four major clades. Punctelia ulophylla is confirmed as a distinct species, P. reddenda is basal to P. borreri, and P. perreticulata groups with P. subrudecta. Samples identified as P. rudecta from the Canary Islands and China occupy different basal positions; the complex merits further study. Punctelia borreri and P. subrudecta are mainly coastal in the Iberian Peninsula, but are now reported from the central plateau for the first time; newly colonizing thalli have been found in a park in Madrid which is regularly spray-watered and where sulphur dioxide levels have fallen over the last two decades.
ITS rDNA sequence data shows that Diploicia and Diplotomma species form a monophyletic clade dist... more ITS rDNA sequence data shows that Diploicia and Diplotomma species form a monophyletic clade distinct from other Buellia species. This indicates that Diplotomma merits acceptance as a genus, and suggests that Diploicia should be treated as a synonym of Diplotomma, the earlier name. The data also shows Diploicia subcanescens, considered the fertile counterpart in a species pair with D. canescens, is nested within D. canescens and should be treated as a synonym despite reported chemical differences. In addition, the molecular data support the distinctness of Diplotomma rivas-martinezii, a species restricted to gypsum rocks in Spain, from the widespread D. venustum, which grows on calcareous rocks. Aposymbiotic cultures suggest that D. rivas-martinezii also differs from D. venustum in its germination and isolation success rates. One new combination is made: Diplotomnta pulverulenta (Anzi) D. Hawksw. (syn. Abrothallus pulverulentus Anzi) for the lichenicolous species previously known as...
Parmelina tiliacea is a common, widely distributed species in south-western Europe, easily identi... more Parmelina tiliacea is a common, widely distributed species in south-western Europe, easily identifiable by morphology and much used as an air pollution bioindicator in many regions. A molecular phylogenetic survey of samples from many geographical areas, using Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian inference of nuITS and mtLSU rDNA regions, revealed a group of samples geographically restricted to a small region of the Iberian Peninsula and genetically separated from the other P. tiliacea specimens studied. These samples are morphologically indistinguishable from P. tiliacea, apart from subtle anatomical characters in the ascomata (hyphae of the exciple and ascospore width), which are frequently absent. Although geographically different, the two taxa occupy similar habitats and are even sympatric in some areas, indicating that they do not exchange genetic material. This previously overlooked, and apparently endemic lineage, is described as P. cryptotiliacea sp. nov., and the name Lichen tili...
Additions and corrections to the checklist published in 2008 are presented. Ten additional specie... more Additions and corrections to the checklist published in 2008 are presented. Ten additional species are recognized: Allantoparmelia almquistii, Asahinea chrysantha, Hypogymnia bryophila, Hypotrachyna afrorevoluta, Melanelixia glabratula, Parmelia encryptata, Parmelina atricha, P. cryptotiliacea, Parmotrema cinereopruinata, and Punctelia rudecta. Myelochroa subaurulenta is deleted, and Xanthoparmelia perezdepazii is also noted as newly described from the Canary Islands. In addition, Cavernularia hultenii is now placed in Hypogymnia, the Canoparmelia crozalsiana group is included within Parmotrema, and Parmelinopsis is treated as a synonym of Hypotrachyna. The typification of the name Lichen quercinus is also corrected with the designation of the original figure as lectotype, and the new combination Hypotrachyna cryptochlora comb. nov. (syn. Parmelia cryptochlora) is made.
Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ITS rDNA and mitochondrial SSU rDNA sequences fr... more Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ITS rDNA and mitochondrial SSU rDNA sequences from 32 specimens representing Parmotrema pseudoreticulatum, P. reticulatum and P. clavuliferum from Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe are reported. Samples from western Europe and South Africa formed an independent monophyletic group, which belongs to P. pseudoreticulatum, a species not accepted by some recent authors, that has only been reported from Portugal, Spain and Morocco. In contrast, P. reticulatum and P. clavuliferum, both widely distributed taxa, formed a monophyletic clade, supporting the synonymy already proposed on the basis of morphological features.
:After a discussion of changing generic concepts in the parmelioid lichens, a checklist with the ... more :After a discussion of changing generic concepts in the parmelioid lichens, a checklist with the current species placements is presented. Twenty-five genera and 143 species are accepted for Europe, of which 17 genera and 112 species belong to the monophyletic parmelioid clade. The individual countries from which species are reported are provided, along with references to key publications. Synonyms used at species rank in Europe are cross-referenced, and the dates of publication of all names are provided. One new combination is made: Xanthoparmelia pulvinaris (syn. Parmelia pulvinaris, X. pseudohungarica).
Argüello et al. (2007) found that Parmelina quercina, as circumscribed by Hale (1976), comprised ... more Argüello et al. (2007) found that Parmelina quercina, as circumscribed by Hale (1976), comprised four phylogenetic species which could also be distinguished by morphological features and also had different distributions: P. carporrhizans (usually rhizinate apothecia, and distinct effigurate maculae; oceanic Europe and Macaronesia), P. coleae (usually rhizinate apothecia, narrow ascospores, and fenestrate maculae; North America), P. elixia (non-rhizinate apothecia, larger ascospores, smaller conidia, and not or faintly maculate; Australia), and P. quercina (apothecia rhizinate or not, and less distinct more rounded maculae; continental Europe).
Lichen-forming fungi are known to produce a large number of secondary metabolites. Some metabolit... more Lichen-forming fungi are known to produce a large number of secondary metabolites. Some metabolites are deposited in the cortical layer of the lichen thallus where they exert important ecological functions, such as UV filtering. The fact that closely related lineages of lichen-forming fungi can differ in cortical chemistry suggests that natural product biosynthesis in lichens can evolve independent from phylogenetic constraints. Usnic acid is one of the major cortical pigments in lichens. Here we used a comparative genomic approach on 46 lichen-forming fungal species of the Lecanoromycetes to elucidate the biosynthetic gene content and evolution of the gene cluster putatively responsible for the biosynthesis of usnic acid. Whole-genome sequences were gathered from taxa belonging to different orders and families of Lecanoromycetes, where Parmeliaceae is the most well-represented taxon, and analyzed with a variety of genomic tools. The highest number of biosynthetic gene clusters was ...
Parmelioid lichens are a diverse and ubiquitous group of foliose lichens. Generic delimitation in... more Parmelioid lichens are a diverse and ubiquitous group of foliose lichens. Generic delimitation in parmelioid lichens has been in a state of flux since the late 1960s with the segregation of the large, heterogeneous genus Parmelia into numerous smaller genera. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies have demonstrated that some of these new genera were monophyletic, some were not, and others, previously believed to be unrelated, fell within single monophyletic groups, indicating the need for a revision of the generic delimitations. This study aims to give an overview of current knowledge of the major clades of all parmelioid lichens. For this, we assembled a dataset of 762 specimens, including 31 of 33 currently accepted parmelioid genera (and 63 of 84 accepted genera of Parmeliaceae). We performed maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of combined datasets including two, three and four loci. Based on these phylogenies and the correlation of morphological and chemical Ta xo n o my
Nomenclatural type definitions are one of the most important concepts in biological nomenclature.... more Nomenclatural type definitions are one of the most important concepts in biological nomenclature. Being physical objects that can be re-studied by other researchers, types permanently link taxonomy (an artificial agreement to classify biological diversity) with nomenclature (an artificial agreement to name biological diversity). Two proposals to amend the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), allowing DNA sequences alone (of any region and extent) to serve as types of taxon names for voucherless fungi (mainly putative taxa from environmental DNA sequences), have been submitted to be voted on at the 11 International Mycological Congress (Puerto Rico, July 2018). We consider various genetic processes affecting the distribution of alleles among taxa and find that alleles may not consistently and uniquely represent the species within which they are contained. Should the proposals be accepted, the meaning of nomenclatural types would change in a fundament...
An understanding of how biotic interactions shape species' distributions is central to predicting... more An understanding of how biotic interactions shape species' distributions is central to predicting host-symbiont responses under climate change. Switches to locally adapted algae have been proposed to be an adaptive strategy of lichen-forming fungi to cope with environmental change. However, it is unclear how lichen photobionts respond to environmental gradients, and whether they play a role in determining the fungal host's upper and lower elevational limits. Deep-coverage Illumina DNA metabarcoding was used to track changes in the community composition of Trebouxia algae associated with two phylogenetically closely related, but ecologically divergent fungal hosts along a steep altitudinal gradient in the Mediterranean region. We detected the presence of multiple Trebouxia species in the majority of thalli. Both altitude and host genetic identity were strong predictors of photobiont community assembly in these two species. The predominantly clonally dispersing fungus showed stronger altitudinal structuring of photobiont communities than the sexually reproducing host. Elevation ranges of the host were not limited by the lack of compatible photobionts. Our study sheds light on the processes guiding the formation and distribution of specific fungal-algal combinations in the lichen symbiosis. The effect of environmental filtering acting on both symbiotic partners appears to shape the distribution of lichens.
Disjunct intercontinental distributions have always fascinated biologists. With the increasing av... more Disjunct intercontinental distributions have always fascinated biologists. With the increasing availability of molecular sequence data, there is a renewed interest in historical biogeography, especially in groups in which species boundaries have changed dramatically as a result, such as lichenized fungi. In the hyperdiverse family Parmeliaceae, Parmelina and Myelochroa have contrasting centres of distribution, with Myelochroa being most diverse in eastern Asia and Parmelina in Western Europe and the Mediterranean. We used multi-locus sequence data from 53 specimens to understand the impact of historical events on the current distribution patterns in these genera. We reconstructed phylogenetic relationships, estimated divergence times and inferred ancestral distributions. Our analyses suggested that the ancestor of the two genera occurred in the Old World and that these genera split during the Eocene. Diversification in both genera was estimated to have occurred during the Miocene, with the ancestor of Myelochroa probably occurring in Asia, whereas the ancestor of Parmelina probably occurred in the Turanian region and Europe or only Europe. The two Parmelina spp. occurring in the New World (P. coleae, P. yalungana) are not closely related and migrated independently from the Old World.
Both macroclimate and evolutionary events may influence symbiont association and diversity patter... more Both macroclimate and evolutionary events may influence symbiont association and diversity patterns. Here we assess how climatic factors and evolutionary events shape fungal-algal association patterns in the widely distributed lichen-forming fungal genus Protoparmelia. Multilocus phylogenies of fungal and algal partners were generated using 174 specimens. Coalescent-based species delimitation analysis suggested that 23 fungal hosts are associating with 20 algal species. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to infer how fungal-algal association patterns varied with climate. Fungi associated with one to three algal partners whereas algae accepted one to five fungal partners. Both fungi and algae were more specific, associating with fewer partners, in the warmer climates. Interaction with more than one partner was more frequent in cooler climates for both the partners. Cophylogenetic analyses suggest congruent fungal-algal phylogenies. Host switch was a more common event in...
The Mediterranean region, comprising the Mediterranean Basin and the Macaronesian Islands, repres... more The Mediterranean region, comprising the Mediterranean Basin and the Macaronesian Islands, represents a center of diversification for many organisms. The genetic structure and connectivity of mainland and island microbial populations has been poorly explored, in particular in the case of symbiotic fungi. Here we investigated genetic diversity and spatial structure of the obligate outcrossing lichen-forming fungus Parmelina carporrhizans in the Mediterranean region. Using eight microsatellite and mating-type markers we showed that fungal populations are highly diverse but lack spatial structure. This is likely due to high connectivity and long distance dispersal of fungal spores. Consistent with low levels of linkage disequilibrium and lack of clonality, we detected both mating-type idiomorphs in all populations. Furthermore we showed that the Macaronesian Islands are the result of colonization from the Mediterranean Basin. The unidirectional gene flow, though, seemed not to be suffi...
Los líquenes (hongos liquenizados) son organismos que presentan una alta diversidad, especialment... more Los líquenes (hongos liquenizados) son organismos que presentan una alta diversidad, especialmente en las regiones tropicales; sin embargo, en Perú su conocimiento aún es escaso. Utilizando una metodología convencional, así como literatura actualizada sobre la descripción de géneros y especies, se presenta una lista de los macro-líquenes presentes en el Santuario Histórico de Machu Picchu (Cusco, Perú). Se reportan 67 especies de macro-líquenes, 9 de los cuales son nuevos registros para el Perú. Las familias Parmeliaceae, Physiciaceae y Lobariaceae son las que presentan mayor riqueza de especies en el área de estudio.
Recently, molecular phylogenetic studies have revolutionized the generic concepts in Parmeliaceae... more Recently, molecular phylogenetic studies have revolutionized the generic concepts in Parmeliaceae and in lichen forming fungi in general. In the present study, the generic delimitation in the Hypotrachyna clade is revised using a molecular phylogeny of nuclear ITS, LSU and mitochondrial SSU rDNA sequences of 88 hypotrachynoid taxa. Morphological and chemical features are also revised in each group. 118 sequences are newly generated for this study. Our phylogenetic analyses show the polyphyly of Hypotrachyna as currently circumscribed which falls into four well-supported and one unsupported clade. Cetrariastrum, Everniastrum and Parmelinopsis are nested within Hypotrachyna s. lat., Parmelinopsis being also polyphyletic and nested in one of the Hypotrachyna clades. Cetrariastrum is monophyletic but clustered within Everniastrum. Two alternative hypotheses tests significantly rejected the monophyly of these three genera. As a consequence, the genera Cetrariastrum, Everniastrum, and Par...
Database : the journal of biological databases and curation, 2014
DNA phylogenetic comparisons have shown that morphology-based species recognition often underesti... more DNA phylogenetic comparisons have shown that morphology-based species recognition often underestimates fungal diversity. Therefore, the need for accurate DNA sequence data, tied to both correct taxonomic names and clearly annotated specimen data, has never been greater. Furthermore, the growing number of molecular ecology and microbiome projects using high-throughput sequencing require fast and effective methods for en masse species assignments. In this article, we focus on selecting and re-annotating a set of marker reference sequences that represent each currently accepted order of Fungi. The particular focus is on sequences from the internal transcribed spacer region in the nuclear ribosomal cistron, derived from type specimens and/or ex-type cultures. Re-annotated and verified sequences were deposited in a curated public database at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), namely the RefSeq Targeted Loci (RTL) database, and will be visible during routine sequenc...
Dióxido de azufre, Daños forestales, Metales pesados, Contaminación acuática, Cambio climático, E... more Dióxido de azufre, Daños forestales, Metales pesados, Contaminación acuática, Cambio climático, Estabilización del suelo Lichens as rapid bioindicators of pollution and habit disturbance in the tropics Lichens have value as bioindicators of environmental pollution, climate change, and ecological continuity. Extensive work has been undertaken in temperate areas, but in only few cases have the techniques been applied in the tropics. Most tropical studies to date are in relation to air pollution and forest disturbance, but these are scattered geographically and remain to be undertaken in most tropical regions. The potential of lichens as rapid bioindicators in the tropics can start to be realized even where the species described are not fully identified as they are perennial and separable by eye or hand lens, and a lack of training is identified as the main constraint. An extensive bibliography is included.
The first molecular phylogenetic study on a range of Punctelia species is reported, focussing on ... more The first molecular phylogenetic study on a range of Punctelia species is reported, focussing on specimens growing in the Iberian Peninsula. Material of seven species was included in the analysis. Forty sequences were generated from nuITS and mtSSU rDNA in 20 specimens, and the resultant majority rule consensus tree from the combined analyses shows four major clades. Punctelia ulophylla is confirmed as a distinct species, P. reddenda is basal to P. borreri, and P. perreticulata groups with P. subrudecta. Samples identified as P. rudecta from the Canary Islands and China occupy different basal positions; the complex merits further study. Punctelia borreri and P. subrudecta are mainly coastal in the Iberian Peninsula, but are now reported from the central plateau for the first time; newly colonizing thalli have been found in a park in Madrid which is regularly spray-watered and where sulphur dioxide levels have fallen over the last two decades.
ITS rDNA sequence data shows that Diploicia and Diplotomma species form a monophyletic clade dist... more ITS rDNA sequence data shows that Diploicia and Diplotomma species form a monophyletic clade distinct from other Buellia species. This indicates that Diplotomma merits acceptance as a genus, and suggests that Diploicia should be treated as a synonym of Diplotomma, the earlier name. The data also shows Diploicia subcanescens, considered the fertile counterpart in a species pair with D. canescens, is nested within D. canescens and should be treated as a synonym despite reported chemical differences. In addition, the molecular data support the distinctness of Diplotomma rivas-martinezii, a species restricted to gypsum rocks in Spain, from the widespread D. venustum, which grows on calcareous rocks. Aposymbiotic cultures suggest that D. rivas-martinezii also differs from D. venustum in its germination and isolation success rates. One new combination is made: Diplotomnta pulverulenta (Anzi) D. Hawksw. (syn. Abrothallus pulverulentus Anzi) for the lichenicolous species previously known as...
Parmelina tiliacea is a common, widely distributed species in south-western Europe, easily identi... more Parmelina tiliacea is a common, widely distributed species in south-western Europe, easily identifiable by morphology and much used as an air pollution bioindicator in many regions. A molecular phylogenetic survey of samples from many geographical areas, using Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian inference of nuITS and mtLSU rDNA regions, revealed a group of samples geographically restricted to a small region of the Iberian Peninsula and genetically separated from the other P. tiliacea specimens studied. These samples are morphologically indistinguishable from P. tiliacea, apart from subtle anatomical characters in the ascomata (hyphae of the exciple and ascospore width), which are frequently absent. Although geographically different, the two taxa occupy similar habitats and are even sympatric in some areas, indicating that they do not exchange genetic material. This previously overlooked, and apparently endemic lineage, is described as P. cryptotiliacea sp. nov., and the name Lichen tili...
Additions and corrections to the checklist published in 2008 are presented. Ten additional specie... more Additions and corrections to the checklist published in 2008 are presented. Ten additional species are recognized: Allantoparmelia almquistii, Asahinea chrysantha, Hypogymnia bryophila, Hypotrachyna afrorevoluta, Melanelixia glabratula, Parmelia encryptata, Parmelina atricha, P. cryptotiliacea, Parmotrema cinereopruinata, and Punctelia rudecta. Myelochroa subaurulenta is deleted, and Xanthoparmelia perezdepazii is also noted as newly described from the Canary Islands. In addition, Cavernularia hultenii is now placed in Hypogymnia, the Canoparmelia crozalsiana group is included within Parmotrema, and Parmelinopsis is treated as a synonym of Hypotrachyna. The typification of the name Lichen quercinus is also corrected with the designation of the original figure as lectotype, and the new combination Hypotrachyna cryptochlora comb. nov. (syn. Parmelia cryptochlora) is made.
Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ITS rDNA and mitochondrial SSU rDNA sequences fr... more Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ITS rDNA and mitochondrial SSU rDNA sequences from 32 specimens representing Parmotrema pseudoreticulatum, P. reticulatum and P. clavuliferum from Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe are reported. Samples from western Europe and South Africa formed an independent monophyletic group, which belongs to P. pseudoreticulatum, a species not accepted by some recent authors, that has only been reported from Portugal, Spain and Morocco. In contrast, P. reticulatum and P. clavuliferum, both widely distributed taxa, formed a monophyletic clade, supporting the synonymy already proposed on the basis of morphological features.
:After a discussion of changing generic concepts in the parmelioid lichens, a checklist with the ... more :After a discussion of changing generic concepts in the parmelioid lichens, a checklist with the current species placements is presented. Twenty-five genera and 143 species are accepted for Europe, of which 17 genera and 112 species belong to the monophyletic parmelioid clade. The individual countries from which species are reported are provided, along with references to key publications. Synonyms used at species rank in Europe are cross-referenced, and the dates of publication of all names are provided. One new combination is made: Xanthoparmelia pulvinaris (syn. Parmelia pulvinaris, X. pseudohungarica).
Argüello et al. (2007) found that Parmelina quercina, as circumscribed by Hale (1976), comprised ... more Argüello et al. (2007) found that Parmelina quercina, as circumscribed by Hale (1976), comprised four phylogenetic species which could also be distinguished by morphological features and also had different distributions: P. carporrhizans (usually rhizinate apothecia, and distinct effigurate maculae; oceanic Europe and Macaronesia), P. coleae (usually rhizinate apothecia, narrow ascospores, and fenestrate maculae; North America), P. elixia (non-rhizinate apothecia, larger ascospores, smaller conidia, and not or faintly maculate; Australia), and P. quercina (apothecia rhizinate or not, and less distinct more rounded maculae; continental Europe).
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Papers by Ana Crespo